How Do Subwoofers Function?
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Subwoofers Receive Electrical Signals
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To generate sound, subwoofers must be connected to a sound source such as a personal media player or an audio receiver. When the receiver or audio system is turned on, it re-creates sound in the form of electrical impulses, which it sends to all connected speakers. Depending on the audio source, the electrical signals sent to the subwoofer can be filtered to carry only the lowest sound frequencies, or the full spectrum of sounds.
The Subwoofer Converts Electrical Signals
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As electrical signals are received, a powerful electromagnet in the subwoofer converts the signals into physical pulsations. Depending on the subwoofer type, it may work solely off of the incoming electrical signals, or in speakers known as powered subwoofers. These rely an external power source such as an electrical outlet or amplifier to power the electromagnet.
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Subwoofers Produce Sound Waves
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As the electromagnet receives incoming electrical signals from the audio source, it creates physical vibrations that are transferred to the speaker cone and membrane of the subwoofer. The cone and membrane, in turn, vibrate at the same frequency as the electromagnet, creating vibrations in the air that are received by the human ear as sound waves. The size of the subwoofer plays an important role in both the volume and frequency of sounds produced; because the membrane is considerably larger than other speaker types, it moves at a slower rate and produces much lower sound frequencies (lower frequencies are received by the listener as lower, or bass, sounds). In addition, larger subwoofers---such as the 15- and 20-inch subwoofers at the high end of the speaker spectrum---are capable of moving larger masses of air, effectively generating a louder, sometimes physically present sound.
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